ST. GEORGE, Utah -- For the first time this season, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team was swept in a weekend series. The Mountain Lions were held winless on Sunday, 7-2 and 5-4 (eight innings) as Dixie State University swept the series at Karl Brooks Field.
Game 1 – Dixie State 7, UCCS 2
The Mountain Lions (12-15, 8-7 RMAC) were down 7-0 in Sunday's first game before plating two runs in the sixth inning. With one out in the top of the sixth,
Lexi Andersen drew a walk to reach first base. After the second out of the inning,
Sawyer Brewster stepped up to the plate and hit a double to left field to bring home Andersen.
Amanda Nobles helped bring in Brewster for the second run of the game when she reached first base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an error. Brewster took advantage of the throwing error by DSU's shortstop to third base to give UCCS their second run of the game.
In the bottom of the inning,
Taylor Reidhead struck out two of the three batters to hold DSU's lead to 7-2, but the Mountain Lions went down one-two-three in their final at-bat to end the game in a 7-2 setback.
The Mountain Lions, who left eight runners on base, collected four hits and drew two walks.
Reidhead pitched all six innings in the circle, allowing seven runs (all earned) on eight hits while striking out seven batters.
Game 2 – Dixie State 5, UCCS 4 (8 innings)
In the series finale, both teams were scoreless through four innings before the Trailblazers strung up three runs in the fifth inning.
UCCS answered in the sixth inning with
Rayle Glover's team-leading eighth home run that also plated
Saleen Quinonez.
The Trailblazers tagged one run onto their lead in the bottom half of the inning. Down 4-2 heading into the seventh inning, the Mountain Lions loaded the bases with no outs to start the comeback. DSU turned a double play to force an out at home and first base. With two runners in scoring position and two outs,
Meghan Waidler entered the game as a pinch hitter and responded with a double to left center that ended in
Peyton Reisman and
Bryn Horton tying the game at 4-4.
UCCS held the Trailblazers to one hit and no runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to force the second extra-innings game of the series.
In the eighth inning, the Mountain Lions were held without a hit for the sixth time in the game. With one out and the bases load, the Trailblazers' Jessica Gonzalez singled to drive in the game-winning run for DSU.
Glover finished the game going 1-for-3 with two runs batted in and one run scored.
Defensively, Resiman tallied 11 putouts at first base while adding a one hit and a run.
Cami Duffey worked four and two-thirds inning in the circle. All three runs on Duffey were unearned as she gave up six hits and struck out two batters.
Braelyne Crenshaw surrendered two runs on six hits in two and two-thirds inning.
The Mountain Lions will host Regis University and Fort Lewis College in a pod series March 23-24 at Mountain Lion Field.
